made most, not fluent at 1st, joined entering straight, ridden and strongly pressed 3 out, regained narrow lead after 2 out, stayed on well run-in
held up in last, left 4th and off pace at 2nd, slight mistakes 4th and 5th, jumped right and blundered badly 6th, slow next, soon ridden and no impression, tailed off
saddle slipped soon after start, raced 4th on outer, mistake at 1st, pulled up after 2nd
tracked leaders in 3rd throughout, raced off pace of leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 2nd and not fluent 4 out, headway to dispute lead travelling well entering straight, mistake and ridden 2 out, soon narrowly headed, kept on under pressure in 2nd run-in
SOLE PRETENDER has a hurdles rating of 150 after landing a Tipperary Grade 3 last summer. He was a very impressive winner on his chasing debut at Ballinrobe where he jumped superbly and will take all the beating. Ferdia has come up against some decent opposition in his four starts over fences and makes a quick reappearance after a very good second at Clonmel on Friday. He looks easily second best as the remainder have a mountain to climb and Custers Mistake was beaten 44 lengths into second at Kilbeggan.
Sole Pretender (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, soon led, asserted after 3rd, increased advantage after 7th, reduced lead before 3 out, travelled well and increased lead before 2 out, clear last, kept on well, impressive, won at Ballinrobe 2m 1f Good - Yielding in May beating Eskylane (11-12) by 12l, 10 ran.
Banjo (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 12th of 18, 12 1/2l behind Unanswered (9-1) at Gowran Park 1m 6f hcp gd in May.
Clever Currency (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Soon led, bad mistake 3rd, not fluent next and headed, soon pushed along and dropped towards rear 4 out, weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Listowel 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Custers Mistake (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Led narrowly, not fluent at 5th, headed before 6th, disputed 4 out, led before 3 out, headed before 2 out, ridden and no impression on leader after 2 out, one paced, slight mistake last, tailed off, 2nd of 6, dist behind Call Me Lyreen (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Jun.
Ferdia (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, 2nd before 6th, led after 3 out, pressed 2 out, headed after 2 out, no chance with easy winner run-in, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Cornerkova (11-5) at Clonmel 2m Good - Yielding in Jun.
